Germany’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs has lent its support to the European Union’s imposition of sanctions against the military junta in Niger.
EU foreign ministers are scheduled to address the Niger situation, including the implementation of sanctions, during a meeting in Toledo, Spain, on August 31, 2023.
As one of the major aid contributors to Niger, the EU had previously announced the suspension of security collaboration and financial assistance amounting to EUR 503 million for the period of 2021-2024. This support was intended to enhance governance and education within the country.
In remarks shared on the X platform, previously known as Twitter, the foreign ministry communicated that its Minister Annalena Baerbock had engaged in discussions with Moussa Mahamat, the Chair of the African Union, U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken, and other pertinent stakeholders, regarding the coup in Niger.
The ministry’s tweet noted that these talks were focused on the objective of restoring constitutional order in Niger.
During a visit to Abuja, the German Minister for Development, Svenja Schulze, also engaged with representatives from the West African regional bloc ECOWAS, as highlighted by the ministry.
“After the suspension of development cooperation and security cooperation, we in the EU now want to introduce sanctions against the putschists,” it added.
President Mohamed Bazoum was overthrown by military officials in Niger on July 26. Since then, they have rejected requests from the UN, ECOWAS, and Western countries to restore him, prompting the assembly of the standby force by the leaders of West African nations.